(CNN) – Some social conservatives are blasting Utah's ruling striking down part of that state's law banning polygamy.

The suit was brought by the stars of the television reality series "Sister Wives," and a federal judge's ruling Friday throws out the law's section prohibiting "cohabitation," saying it violates constitutional guarantees of due process and religious freedom.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – As trench warfare over the government shutdown drags into its eleventh day, a number of Republicans with visible roles in the stalemate, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, will take a breather from Capitol Hill on Friday to speak at the Values Voter Summit, one of the conservative movement's marquee annual events.

Pretty much everyone in official Washington, including President Barack Obama, is taking a beating in public opinion polls over the shutdown. Republicans, however, continue to shoulder most of the blame.

Los Angeles (CNN) - Prominent social conservative Tony Perkins called on political activists Thursday evening to withhold contributions to Republican campaign committees, as the GOP is embroiled in a debate over social issues.

Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, made the request in an email to supporters of his organization, as members of the Republican National Committee met in California to discuss campaign strategy and political messaging.FULL POST

Tampa, Florida (CNN) – While much of the Republican universe spent Monday condemning Missouri Senate hopeful Todd Akin for his comments about "legitimate rape" and abortion, one of the nation's most prominent conservative organizations rallied to his defense.

Two top officials from the Family Research Council said the Missouri congressman is the target of a Democratic smear campaign and chided those Republicans who have condemned Akin.FULL POST

(CNN) – Tony Perkins, who said Tuesday evangelical conservatives would shift focus away from the race for the White House, said the likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney could learn from the campaign of Rick Santorum.

Speaking on CNN, the president of the Family Research Council and former backer of Santorum's White House bid said Romney's chances of picking up support from the religious right would be bolstered by embracing Santorum's message.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, a leading social conservative, tells CNN that conservative activists are so unenthusiastic about Mitt Romney, many are likely to turn their grass roots efforts away from the presidential race and towards Congress – specifically, putting the Senate in Republican hands.

"It's difficult for us to back a candidate our constituents don't believe in and aren't excited about," Perkins said in a telephone interview, speaking about Romney.FULL POST

(CNN) - The president of the Family Research Council characterized Rep. Ron Paul's weekend win in the Values Voter Summit straw poll as "an outlier."

Tony Perkins, who heads the social conservative group, said the Republican presidential candidate influenced the results by busing supporters to the event, proving his 37% support is not reflective of social conservative backing nationally.FULL POST

(CNN) – The leader of the right-leaning Family Research Council said Friday that simply electing a Republican to the White House in 2012 wouldn't be enough to counter Pres. Barack Obama's four years as president.

"This election is too important to elect a Republican," Tony Perkins said at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. "We need to elect a conservative that will undo the economic and moral and social destruction this administration has unleashed on America. We don't need politicians that promise to slow down decline. We need leaders that are bold and courageous that will undo destructive policies."FULL POST